Advice and preparations

“Can you hear me okay John?” The old woman asks as she readjusts her webcam.

“Yes, I hear you well ma’am.” I tell her as she sits back on her chair more comfortably.

“Come on John, just call me Edith.”

I nod, but it’s hard to call her by her name after she was my teacher for so long.

Edith Summers was my literature teacher at Uni, she’s a woman in her fifties that looks like a kind aunt would. Her hair has mostly become white from old age and her face is filled with wrinkles that mostly disappear everytime she streches her mouth into a smile.

She’s actually pretty tech literate for her age, I don’t think she could do anything advanced, but she can fill in documents, and have video calls with me without problems.

“Where were we? Ah right, I’ve read the big modifications you did since last time. I know it **** you to rewrite a 3rd of the scenes, but making the childhood friend come back in the 3rd act really helps with the motivation of the main love interest.”

I nod, I know my book has kept improving since I consulted her for the first time. It was a few months before graduation since I just wanted some advice while making sure it was late enough in the year that I could disappear if it was too terrible.

In actuality, miss Summers was very kind. She explained to me that my book was not at the level it would need to be published yet, but that I had potential to write a good story and that I needed to keep going.

After that, she insisted on reading the modifications I made to the script, and gave more advice, everytime re-reading what I wrote, and explaining what needed to be adapted. She is kind of my unofficial editor.

The reason why I trust her judgement so much, is that long ago, around the time I was born, she published a romance trilogy that became a best-seller. My mom is her fan and she had me bring her books to class to sign them.

She never got another giant hit like that but she kept writing in her free time, and has published around 20 books. She has made a small niche for herself of very passionate fans.

“With this modification, I felt like I should add some more foreshadowing during the memories at the beginning.” I explain, she thinks about it, grabbing a strand of her white hair, that’s an habit everytime she’s lost in thought.

“I guess you could, but I feel like the memories are already quite full. If you had anymore scenes to it, you might break the pacing and lose some readers. How about adding a small scene in the beginning of the 2nd act?”

I nod again, every advice she gives feels like an improvement but we’ve been doing that for years now, and I feel like we’re starting to spend too much time on details.

“I could do that. Do you think I’ll be ready to send it to the publishers anytime soon.” I ask.

She looks at me and smiles.

“I guess you’re still young and impatient… Sure, the book has improved a lot and I’m sure it would get published at the very least. We’re only doing some additional improvements right now. I’d say, at least finish the last few improvements we talked about, and we can consider it ready.”

I smile in return. Finally it feels like I accomplished something.

“Since you’re almost done John, how about we meet at a cafe next time? To celebrate in person.” She asks and I gladly accepts.

“You know Ma-Edith, I always wondered… Do you need to be a teacher? I thought your books were successful.”

She smiles some more.

“You’re right John, I could have avoided ever leaving my desk, my books could pay the bills… But the reason I decided to teach, was to give my students a taste for literature just like my teachers did for me back in the day. And it brings great moments, like helping a student get published.” She laughs softly, and continues after rubbing her wet eyes.

“I really want my life to be more, to touch as many people as possible. Books are a way to achieve that, but teaching young authors is another.”

“I see, that’s admirable. Thank you for what you’re doing.”

“Oh, John I’m not doing that for compliments… But I appreciate it.” She says as grabs a tissue.

---

My morning is pretty much over, and as I laze around, Matt calls me to eat, I’m happy he decided to cook again.

I check the app first.

Matt completed a basic permanent quest. [+3 xp] [+3 bonus xp]

Name: Matt
Surname : Weaver
Gender: Male
Age : 23
Level 8 (14 / 20 xp)
Class: Housewife
Perks : Cleaning II, Unrestricted Access, Sweet Voice I, Cooking I, Small Talk II
Perk Points : 5

I see that he has a lot of unspent perks, but what interests me is the quests. I write a new one for him.

Matt will receive the following quest :

• Accept John’s invitation
• Stay at the party for at least 2 hours

Warning, multi-step quest might be too complex for target current level, success isn’t guaranteed but will grant more xp. Continue ? Yes / No

I press yes, and find myself choosing his reward as well.

Select a reward from the three choices:

• Friendliness I perk
• Empathy I perk
• Cuddles with John

The cuddles might seem out of the blue, but I guess if I put myself in his boots I wouldn’t mind cuddles with any girl, even if I didn’t have a crush on her.
But the perks are more interesting, Friendliness I sounds like it would help him make more friends, while Empathy I sounds like it would help him understand others more.

I guess they’re pretty similar in effect.

Reward : Empathy I perk

I then close the app, and go to the kitchen, where Matt is waiting for me. He prepared a pretty simple but tasty looking omelette.

As I sit down, he looks like he wants to say something, but stops himself.

“It’s really good!” I say as I eat. He takes a big breath.

“You told me you were going to a party at Alex’s place tonight, is it still on?” He asks anxiously.

“Yes, he didn’t tell me anything, but he did send a weird message days ago. So I guess there will be a surprise.”

“I see… C-Can I still come?” He asks again, and I let out a smile.

“Sure, I’ll send him a text. Since you can’t drive, I guess I’ll have to stay sober all night though.” I act as if it wasn’t already what I planned, after all I would have to stay sober if I came alone as well.

“Yeah, sorry…”

“I’m joking Matt, I don’t mind, I’m happy you decided to come, it’s been months since last time right?”

“I think around 7 or 8 months, we texted a few times since I guess…” He says, while looking lost in thought, staring at his plate.

He then grabs it and brings it to the sink.

---

It’s around time for us to leave, I check the app one last time, and notice that a step of Matt’s quest is checked, so they get checked as they happen, but the rewards only triggers at the very end.

Matt bought the Beauty I perk for 2 points.

Matt bought the Charisma I perk for 2 points.

Really Matt? You spent 4 points in one go? I guess the party really stresses him out. Since I never heard of the Charisma perk, I also check it’s description.

Charisma I: People naturally perceive you as more charismatic. (Hidden: Arousal increase when being the center of attention)

I guess that’s not bad, depending on how strong the Hidden effect is. I can’t really understand since my perks don’t have hidden compulsions, but I saw that Matt is now pretty clean so I shouldn’t underestimate those effects too much.

I knock at Matt’s door, and when he opens I can’t hide my shock. He grimaces when he sees my expression.

Once again, the Beauty perks does a lot of work, but it feels like it wasn’t in the direction Matt intended. He’s wearing a graphic tee and jeans, and it feels like his body became thinner again, not enough to hide his belly, but I’m pretty sure he would look almost average weight-wise. The thing is, his skin also became smoother, and his face while still his, is now trending toward androgyny, I guess because he still has some weight rounding his face.
He kind of looks like he photoshopped himself a little too much.

“You’re looking good.” I tell him, and his cheeks become red in acknowledgement.

“Come on John… It wasn’t what I wanted. It’s just this perk I bought that didn’t work like I think it would.” He tries to justify himself. Honestly, I think it suits him, he looks girly but I think it works well on his now average body.

“I honestly don’t think it’s bad. It might feel like a big change, but I’m sure you’ll get used to it.”

He thinks about what to say.

“And how is it that I changed so much since I got the app and you’re still exactly the same?” He asks, frustrated.

I’m taken by surprise but it’s not that hard to think of something.

“I don’t know, I’m still low level and I can’t spend my perks yet.”

He seems satisfied with this lie, but still wants to complain.

“Well that’s unfair! I hope you’ll end up changing a lot too, then you’ll understand how I feel!”

I know he doesn’t really mean it, but it hurts nonetheless to hear my best friend wants me to change.

“I guess you’ll have what you want when I level up then…” I say while turning around.

“Oh, come on John…” He says as he follows me.

Soon, we’re in my car, and I start driving to Alex’s place.

Alex left our apartment around a year ago I think. I understand him though, he didn’t have a room, and slept on the couch. So in his place I would also have jumped at the opportunity of living with my girlfriend.
I don’t know much about Alex’s girlfriend, I know they’ve been together for a while, and he really loves her. And I know she’s really jealous and hates when he goes home too late.
But I never met her, and that’s the first time we have a party at his house.

I struggle to move through the streets I’ve never seen, while Matt tells me where to go, fixated on the GPS.

I decide to call him when I notice I’m making a circle around the same three houses.

“Okay, I’m going to leave the house and show you the way…” He says, and soon after I finally see him.

I park, properly and we meet him in front of a private gate. He’s grinning from ear to ear, happy to see Matt also came. But his grin disappears slowly as we approach and he can see us in more detail.
The first thing I see is that he still has his shirt open, even though the night is cold. Then, I notice the bags under his eyes that look like he hasn’t slept much recently.

“Matt ! It’s been so long! You lost so much weight ! Congrats dude!” He says before grabbing and forcing him into a hug.

I thought his weight wasn’t the only thing different about his appearance but even as he pulls back and looks at him, he only remarks that he should cut his hair.
I guess the bangs looks weird, I thought he would already have cut them but he didn’t and I got used to them.

“It’s been a while.” Matt says, and Alex nods.

He brings us to his apartment, and we take a long elevator, as he has some small talk with Matt.

Once we arrive in front of his door, he stops, and tells us:

“So, I haven’t told you about it, but there’s someone I think you aren’t expecting to see here.”

He then opens the door and we enter. The hallway is bright, and paintings are livening up the room.
Two people are sitting in the living room and talking, drinks in hand.
The black girl must be Alex’s girlfriend, she’s wearing a long shiny dress, and she has straight black hair stopping at her neck. She’s really beautiful and she seems to be dressed for a formal party, making me feel way underdressed.

What really shocks me however, is the person she’s talking to. The woman in front of her, wearing her light brown hair short notices me and makes a small wave inviting me closer.
I approach, and she laughs as she looks at my anxious walk.

“Haha, You’re still as nervous as you were as a child?”

I laugh nervously in return as the tomboy looks at me.

“I think I improved a lot on that front. Nice to see Sandra.”

“Since you look surprised, I guess Alex didn’t warn you I was coming?”

I shake my hands, and remember there is someone else next to her.

“You’re this John that Alex spends his evenings with I assume?”

“I am, nice to meet you Kayla.” I say trying to appear courteous.

We shake hands and I take a few steps back to let Matt present himself.

Alex! You should have told me your sister was coming! I try to think about something else but she sees me staring at her and smiles back. I swear she’s still so cute.
I calm myself while Matt has a pretty awkward handshake with Kayla and focus back.

---

Author's Note: I didn't want to write the full party in this chapter because I had more to write before it than I expected.